About 15 minutes after they dominated the Baltimore Ravens in unprecedented fashion, some of the Texans spoke about what the 43-13 win can mean for them over the rest of the season.

In setting a team record with 43 points, winning the second-most lopsided game in team history and scoring more points against the Ravens than any team since 2007, the Texans played their best and most prolific offensive game this season.

“It doesn’t feel any better than to be 6-1 and the top seed in the AFC,” tight end Owen Daniels said.

Daniels was part of an offense that produced 420 yards to Baltimore’s 176. The Texans ran for 181 yards and controlled the ball for 38 minutes and 16 seconds.

“This was a statement game for us,” offensive tackle Duane Brown said. “A lot of people doubted us after last week.”

And they should have, considering how bad the Texans were embarrassed in the 42-24 shellacking by Green Bay.

“We wanted to show them that’s not who we are,” Brown said. “We picked up the intensity level. The way we came back and played today is a testament to our focus.

“It’s a great feeling to be in control of the AFC.”

Overcoming slow start
The Texans own a two-game lead on other AFC teams, including the Ravens. They’re up one game on Baltimore in the win-loss column and two because of the head-to-head tiebreaker that could be necessary in the playoffs.

It took the offense four series to get going, and once it did, it didn’t stop.

Daniels and Andre Johnson combined for 16 catches and 145 yards. When Johnson (nine catches for 86 yards and six first downs) and Daniels (seven for 59 and a touchdown) got open, quarterback Matt Schaub got them the ball.

“We’re at our best when the ball is being dispersed between those two,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other having a big day.”

A lot of Texans had big days on both sides of the ball, and fans let out a collective sigh of relief after the slow start by the offense and an exceptional job by the defense.

“There’s no need to panic,” Schaub told his teammates after the slow start.

It was the Ravens’ injury-ravaged defense, playing without linebacker Ray Lewis and cornerback Lardarius Webb, that should have panicked after Baltimore led 3-0 and crumbled in alarming fashion.

Spreading the ball around
The Texans’ running game produced 181 yards, averaging 4.9 yards a carry. Arian Foster provided 98 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Tate contributed 47 before suffering a hamstring injury.

Schaub was 23-of-37 for 256 yards against what was mostly the Ravens’ two-deep coverage. He threw two touchdown passes without an interception. He was sacked twice, once by outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who started after his surprisingly speedy recovery from May surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Kevin Walter added four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. He could have caught a second long touchdown when he was wide open behind the secondary, but Schaub overthrew him.

“When we can spread the ball around, we’re at our best,” Schaub said.

The offense needs to be at its best when the Texans return from some well-deserved rest after their open date. They can celebrate the conquest of the Ravens a little longer, but then they come back to host Buffalo.

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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Texans strong safety Glover Quin reaches back as he grabs an interception during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Texans strong safety Glover Quin reaches back as he grabs an interception during the second quarter at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph heads to the end zone during the second quarter.

Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph heads to the end zone during the second quarter.